WWE may have just pulled off its biggest SmackDown gate ever in Toronto, with word going around the August 21 taping that the show set a new revenue record for the blue brand in the city.
According to PWInsider, the talk at Friday night’s SmackDown taping at the Scotiabank Arena is that the event is the highest-grossing WWE SmackDown taping ever held in Toronto. WWE itself has not announced the record, so for now this is based on what is being said around the show.
“The word making the rounds at tonight’s SmackDown taping in Toronto is that the event is the highest grossing WWE SmackDown taping ever in Toronto.”
If that information holds up, it would be a major gate for WWE considering how many SmackDown events the company has held in Toronto over the years. The biggest attraction on the card is CM Punk defending the Undisputed WWE Championship against Kevin Owens, and PWInsider pointed directly to that match as a major reason for the strong business.
“Obviously, Kevin Owens challenging CM Punk for the WWE Championship should get the credit.”
Owens challenging for WWE’s top prize in Canada gives the show a strong hometown hook, while Punk remains one of the company’s biggest attractions. Putting those two together in a championship main event certainly gave WWE a strong ticket-selling match.
The rest of the card includes Tama Tonga and Talla Tonga defending the WWE Tag Team Championships against Damian Priest and R-Truth, Blake Monroe facing Giulia, and appearances from Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
The key part here is that WWE has not publicly confirmed an official gate figure or announced the Toronto record itself. As of now, the word inside the building is that Friday’s SmackDown has topped every previous SmackDown gate WWE has produced in Toronto. If WWE confirms the number, it would give the company another major live-event business milestone during what has already been a strong period at the box office.
What do you think about word going around that WWE just produced its biggest SmackDown gate ever in Toronto? Let us know what you think and leave your feedback in the comments.
